Congrats, Arnie!!! Beautiful!!! Quick question - are you still using your Subs? I saw the link to your subs as working from 9hz to 22hz with your M5s...so clearly some time ago.

If you do, then i would appreciate any insight as to how you merge the subs with the mighty Arrakis...and what the subs do for the bass relative to Arrakis by itself. Thanks!!! (and congrats again.)

lloydelee21 March 14, 2015 13:20

Congrats Arnie...great stuff! I am a big fan of Tripoint and Entreq and use both. Enjoy.

lloydelee21 January 27, 2015 05:41

That sounds great, Arnie...really great!!! I'd love to try the Absolares...but its your speakers that are my favourite part about your entire system!

lloydelee21 June 04, 2014 18:36

Hi Babybear,

Great reading!!! You've clearly been busy. Regarding your Ultra 5s...I had a very very long series of days/nights trying to maintain the tone of my system with them...while trying to hold onto every bit of huge detail, clarity and improved timing that the Ultra 5s delivered.

Eventually, I figured out that if I place an HRS Nimubs/ Coupler on top of each Ultra 5 and THEN place the component on top...I literally got the best of both worlds. I have spoken with 1 other audiophile who has tried this and I think he also decided to combine HRS with Ultra 5s.

YMMV but thought I would share what worked for me in case you're curious

lloydelee21 June 01, 2014 03:52

Thank you...same to you!

lloydelee21 December 25, 2013 14:17

I have never had the pleasure of listening to Arnie's system...and every small nuance can make a remarkable difference. But I HAVE heard Arrakis IIs driven by 2 sets of Siegfried II monos, VTL 7.5 Series III, and a Clearaudio Statement turntable...so a 'parallel' system at the dealer in Hong Kong.

I have to agree with Albert's description of Arnie's system insofar as I can say that, imho, the system I heard in HK is 1 of 2 of the best I have ever heard in my life and by some distance. Utterly effortless, utterly detailed, utterly fatigue free...so easy to listen to, you almost forget how impossibly full-scale the music is. It seems so easy, you almost wonder why everybody cannot make a system like this. It is really that good. By comparison, it made my system at home (Wilson X1/Grand Slamms + Velodyne DD18) and other X2 systems I have heard feel like Alexias or big Sashas, where at the scale-level we were listening, it was as effortless as when I listen to my X1s at 70db-80db.

lloydelee21 December 25, 2013 07:37

Hi Arnie,

Let me know if you ever do...but bear in mind it is one finicky piece of equipment...great tonality in general...but super sensitive to vibration. It has taken me a long time to get it to work where I feel the signal is 'totally solid' without leakage from vibration, weaker tubes, power cables, etc. Once done, the purity of the Zanden tone comes thru...it probably has not been the last word in detail for some time now. Yours, Vivaldi, Scarlatti, Stahl-Tek...have likely all surpassed it. But its purity of tone without artificial artefact is still my favourite part of the Zanden sound.

But there is always another mountain to climb...Mt. Arrakis!

lloydelee21 December 22, 2013 21:20

Hi Arnie,

Hah! I promised myself I would NEVER go there...and dedicate all my resources to the best digital front end i could find. With my Zanden front-end fully isolated, tweaked out with NOS tubes, powercords, etc)...i think that is me done on investing in sources! Plus, all my music is on silver disc...approaching 2000 and counting.

I actually crave for your speakers, truth be told. Now that i have heard them with music i know...i understand better just how remarkable they are. they make reproduction seem so easy, at such dynamic levels, you wonder 'how come other speakers cannot do this?'...

lloydelee21 December 21, 2013 04:28

Mullards came in from Brent Jessee! Stunning. He also had 3 Copper Stoppers...very thick copper tubes which have Teflon insides. They slip over the tube to damp them and help cool them.

I used to have 2 Mullard 1950s and 1 RCA/Sylvania. Now with all 3 Mullards 1950 Square Getters...it is stunningly good. Bass tight and powerful, propsulive. And dynamic attack in mids is there...which you miss somehow if the tube just isn't delivering that last ounce.

don't understand the science, but am thoroughly enjoying the results!

lloydelee21 December 20, 2013 09:08

Thanks, Arnie. They should arrive this coming week via FedEx Economy just in time for a nice week before Christmas! Hope the EAT tube dampers arrive as well, so can retube and put on the dampers all at once!

lloydelee21 December 15, 2013 07:20

Look forward to your comments, Babybear.

Just ordered a set of Mullard 1950s Square Getter Rectifiers myself for my Zanden DAC. I am using a set now from brent jessee which I love. They simply have gotten a touch old...slightly weaker bass, less slam, dynamics across the board. I also decided while I was getting ready to change them out...I would order 2 EAT tube dampers for them as well...very excited hopefully have them all next week for re-tube.

lloydelee21 December 14, 2013 13:00

Fantastic, Arnie...look forward to reading your thoughts on both! Any word on ETA for a shoot-out? ;)

lloydelee21 August 25, 2013 10:32

I am no techie...I am told that both devices try to create a common earthing for the components and use materials inside to simulate a high quality ground earthing. All I know is...it works. Very impressed by Entreq and investigating Tripoint next.

lloydelee21 August 24, 2013 02:35

Great stuff Arnie!!! Love it!!! Thanks for all the effort!!! Very excited!

lloydelee21 August 17, 2013 18:01

This will be very interesting!! I am also going to try to listen again to Troy. The good news is I have heard both and know they both work...really well...which is better is another matter for the moment.

lloydelee21 August 16, 2013 06:53

Good luck, Arnie. I also emailed you to provide further color.

lloydelee21 August 13, 2013 12:48

Hi Arnie,

From theaudiobeat.com, it looks like Stillpoints distributes Entreq in the US now...so you should have no problems getting an audition. Good luck. Definitely go for their top of line: Silver Tellus and Apollo grounding cables...Entreq distributor here recommends Preamp and Source...and not to 'over ground' the system. 2-3 grounding cables is what they find is best.

http://www.theaudiobeat.com/ces2013/ces2013_stillpoints.htm

lloydelee21 August 13, 2013 08:18

Hi Charles,

Yes, I think it has been very carefully and thoughtfully manufactured...and clearly by someone who focuses on the purpose and on value. The box is super heavy, dense but basic-looking. The cables have been thoughtfully created...as per a cable manufacturer/colleague I know who does some similar things with his cables...but using real-world materials and high quality where it matters apparently.

I like it a lot. Since execution matters in these cases, I cannot say for sure if the totally Over the Top build of the Troy makes for better sound (I am told it is even better)...but I can say that the Entreq has opened my eyes in my own system to what both technologies are doing as a basic principal, and it seems sound to me. (pardon the pun!)

Note: I have always shied away in my system from large-scale orchestral (until now) for 2 primary reasons...my older system could not deliver sufficient dynamics to generate a scale that seemed acceptable to me; it also could not keep the instruments separate and things mushed together. I have been listening pre-Entreq to a lot more orchestral as the system has improved its resolution and dynamics.

But now, for the first, time, when massed strings play, I can still feel the roisin and the bow/string tension as opposed to that long single high note of a bunch of violins that you sometimes get when music has a lot of dynamics going on and too complexity for the strings to come out right. That is really wonderful to enjoy.

To be fair, I cannot say how much of this is the 3 Stillpoint Ultra 5s I put under my power conditioner and how much is the Entreq...when I remove the Entreq, we shall see...but I feel confident it is both and the Entreq is definitely contributing a strong fair share of this added new musical benefit.

lloydelee21 August 13, 2013 04:00

I connected to the CJ GAT and the Zanden DAC. Entreq have several cables for various connections. The one I used was spade (to the back of the Entreq) with a special RCA on the other which has no pin but simply fits around the outside of the RCA. The design is based on the fact that nearly all RCA jacks end up being full ground to the chassis...thus using this custom RCA end works perfectly and very easily. No messing around with grounding or chassis screws.

lloydelee21 August 12, 2013 18:03

Hi Arnie,

You read my mind...and this goes for Jfrech as well given his observations about your system. The Entreq grounding unit is the real deal...Silver Tellus version plus 2 Apollo cables. It gets at noise floor in a way that intuitively feels very different from traditional power conditioning. Hard to explain. Here goes:

- the noise floor has dropped but more in the sense that the background has stilled when there is no signal playing.
- its almost as if electronic hash (though technically silent) creates a waver in the air...and when the waver in the air gone...you see more clearly than you expected.
- As a result, on Dark Knight, the piano is not simply further back, or the notes more clear...its that you stop thinking about piano notes...and actually realize without even thinking about it at first...that is a PIANIST who played an actual piano RIGHT THERE.
- Your brain does not register 'only piano notes'...it registers 'live piano'.

Along that same vein, all instruments thus begin to take up a life of their own...not just notes but a ensemble of true instruments

The coolest was on Track 1, Sotho Blue, Ibrahim...there is some piano playing...you don't just hear the pianist stop playing...you clearly, clearly, clearly realize he actually hesitates and then immediately plunks down on the key staccato-like on purpose. That is very unusual for a piece of equipment to reveal. But it is now there every time I play the track, clear and undeniable.

Entreq is the real deal and easily worth 3x its cost.

I have been speaking with people who own Tripoint to get a sense of their Troy which is similar but much more expensive. So far, very very similar comments and universally over the top praise. Will investigate further as well.

Ranks up there at the very tip top of 'definitely try it'. I note that most of the guys who own the Tripoint already have dedicated lines, ridiculous power conditioning, balanced power, etc...and all of them find this does something different and spectacular along the way I've tried to describe. All for now. will post again.

lloydelee21 August 12, 2013 15:32

Hey Jfrech,

I am going to throw one out there without any experience with your system...you may wish to try some Stillpoints Ultra 5s. They do a LOT for micro detail, hearing the soundstage way in the back...and bass tightness. You hopefully will be pleasantly surprised. Clearly, Arnie has tons of firepower so that is simply a mass of physics there working for his system. But yours aint no slouch so interms of hearing in the back...or tightness within the scope of your system...and the fact that you've got one killer source as well...I'd love to learn your impressions of Stillpoints (again go for the Ultra 5s) in your system.

Perhaps Arnie has some thoughts there having heard your system particularly since he uses Ultra 5s.

lloydelee21 August 12, 2013 04:38

hi Arnie...will post!

lloydelee21 August 08, 2013 19:09

Wow...sensational! Congrats, Arnie. I hear the Altairs next week...really looking forward to it.

Also auditioning Entreq Silver Tellus grounding unit tomorrow. Have heard great things.

lloydelee21 August 08, 2013 15:11

Hey ARnie,

big news! Congrats! looking forward to reading more about your adventures in VTL!

I am scheduled to hear the Altairs in two weeks and am looking forward to it. They know my system, and are trying to assemble something similar. Will be very interesting. stay tuned...meanwhile, enjoy the break-in! like the damping settings...quite cool particularly given that the Arrakis is actively crossed over.

lloydelee21 July 31, 2013 16:16

Look forward to reading all about them! I am hearing the Altairs hopefully in a few weeks which will give me a taste of the latest generation Rockport sound which I am really looking forward to, having heard earlier generation stuff and loved. As you may recall, I run Gryphon and Transparent Audio with a fairly vinyl-like front end (Zanden 4-box), so if you believe Andy Payor has a good ear (I do), Rockport should be a good place to look for someone like me.

lloydelee21 July 26, 2013 13:32

They are quite big and presumably solid (not bendable)...can you provide some guidance as to what happens with/without them in place? Thanks!! Also good to know about your friend & Wilsons.

Any chance I might also ping him a message/PM?

lloydelee21 June 24, 2013 07:25

Hey Arnie,

Congrats...how much are the ABsolare bullets? CAn they be used with any speaker cable?

lloydelee21 June 23, 2013 09:09

To be assumed...;) Nevertheless, i have promised myself never to go down that dark road...;) Thanks for the feedback.

lloydelee21 April 16, 2013 11:34

OK! Nice one! Now...on a scale of 1-100, if you scored the 16/44 redbook version of the above albums on your MSB digital, vs the TT, vs the Tape Project versions...how would you score each medium? Presumably you have at least Saxaphone Colossus and Waltz for Debby?

lloydelee21 April 15, 2013 13:09

Good luck VPN!

Arnie - you're probably right...but having just bought second hand HRS M3 and nimbus/couplers for Zanden...i am sticking with them. the Ultra 5s are for the Wilson X1s and Velodyne DD18...though i admit i did get Ultra 5 for the CJ and LP Isolator for Transport...that's enough for now!

They are excellent and addictively good!

lloydelee21 April 10, 2013 17:32

Hi VPN,

FWIW, I just did that with my Wilson X1s...stunning changes. I posted on whatsbestforum. Ultra V and X1s thread. Stillpoints makes adaptor threads for nearly every screw type...mine are screwed in and they are not coming out. Good luck.

lloydelee21 April 08, 2013 14:49

Thanks, Arnie. Yes, Zanden provide all umbilical cables for the connections between PSU and main DAC or Transport (4-box) and also the i2s cable. I know they created a new i2s cable...and there is generally a debate about which people prefer...and a few who say both are good and about the same. I will let you know how it goes later this week. thanks again.

lloydelee21 February 20, 2013 02:41

Hey Arnie,

How much did the i2s link improve the quality of your sound? Just curious as i will be looking at this interface later this week.

lloydelee21 February 19, 2013 16:54

Hey Arnie,

Nice discovery it seems. Martin Colloms wrote a review in Hifi Critic on various USB cables i think...not ethernet...but he included Audioquest and several others (at least 7-8)...quite an interesting read. As usual, Martin is not afraid to call it like he sees it and his ranking is not at all correlated to price. If you can, i dont know if its worth checking out for you given that you are looking at ethernet cables...perhaps you can email him if you're interested?

lloydelee21 February 07, 2013 02:31

Congrats Pradeep! Let us know how they sound! Pls post here so we can refer back to this one to find your new post! Enjoy!

lloydelee21 December 20, 2012 03:26

thanks for that...read the link as well. Impressive! Look forward to reading your notes on it!!!

lloydelee21 December 17, 2012 02:53

Wow! Great to know you heard Babybear's system...wish i could do same someday.

What makes you think of Altairs over Maxx3s?

And what preamp is Arnie now auditioning?

lloydelee21 December 16, 2012 08:44

Arnie,

For sure. Will do. Thanks again.

lloydelee21 November 28, 2012 17:54

Wow! Thanks for the quick reply, Babybear! Great stuff! I realized i use HRS nimbus couplers and dampers, Artesania dampers and Auralex subwoofer isolation platform on: Transport, DAC, DAC PSU, CJ GAT and the Velodyne. Basically the Wilsons and the Gryphon Colosseum have no 3rd party isolation. The Colosseum has enormous 3" thick feet with a 2" thick methacrylate base of some sort.

And Wilson appears to use the same spikes since 1994...good ones...just wondering if Stillpoints will make the same material difference you seem to have found with your components. (I was very impressed by what Ultra SS did with Esoteric Transport...in fact, i would use the very same description you gave about what i heard with the Ultra SS and the Esoteric transport.)

And the Ultra SS/5s were primarily designed for heavy speakers...fingers crossed and thanks again!

lloydelee21 November 27, 2012 17:24

Just the man to talk to!!! Babybear - i have just asked to audition Ultra 5s for my Wilson X1s...any thoughts on this? I cannot imagine you would wish to try under the Arrakis, given the base that Rockport has built under the speaker. However in my case, with the Velodyne DD18 being so dramatically changed by the Auralex subwoofer isolation platform (recalibrating after installing it meant going from volume 9 to 32!!!)...means the floorboards are singing. so i am going to try them under the trusty old Wilsons.

Any thoughts on Ultra 5s...what they do...did you compare to anything else? thanks!

lloydelee21 November 27, 2012 16:14

Hi Arnie,

Sounds great! It is a big move for me...but one worth considering seriously given that MSB supports its older products with all the upgrades, and it has seemingly every technology/input/hi-res option available.

lloydelee21 August 27, 2012 16:17

Wow...sounds like a great trip and a pretty great experience! I am impressed on the MSB! That has risen up my list, particularly given that Andy Payor apparently also uses it...and the fact that it is regularly upgradeable by MSB.

lloydelee21 August 27, 2012 03:10

Arnie,

Very, very helpful. And good to know! Thanks!

lloydelee21 August 14, 2012 13:04

Hi Arnie

Just curious...which do you prefer:
- Playing the SACD layer thru the UMT
- Playing the CD layer of the same disc thru the CD IV Transport?

Or does it depend on the particular hybrid SACD? I imagine some SACDs are not as well remastered as others...so the differences might not be as great btwn the CD layer and SACD layer?

lloydelee21 August 13, 2012 14:16

Great stuff Babybear! Congrats!!!

lloydelee21 August 07, 2012 16:34

wow...thanks! sounds good! enjoy!

lloydelee21 July 21, 2012 16:29

Hi Arnie

Congrats! What are the differences?

lloydelee21 July 21, 2012 07:50

Rockitman,

FWIW, i think your approach makes a lot of sense. Get the best DAC...add the clock later. Enjoy and pls post your observations here or on WBF when you get a chance. LIke to see you've updated your pictures...but your description still says Wilson 8s! ;)

lloydelee21 July 15, 2012 15:00

Thanks, Mike. Good to know. How much were they asking for the used older Arrakis you saw?

lloydelee21 June 23, 2012 03:25

Mikelavgine,

You have the MM7s on the way, i think i read somewhere...and you dream of the Arrakis actives?

Here's a question...if they were the same price, which speakers would you take? (Ignoring your existing equipment which has a magic synergy with Evolutions). You've got quite a lot of experience, and i've always thought about Arrakis (original...second hand)...my equipment on the other hand actually apparently goes well with Arrakis. (Gryphon, Transparent Audio, CJ)

So thanks for any thoughts!

lloydelee21 June 22, 2012 17:09

Hi Arnie,

Thank you!!! Well, someday, if i ever find it...passive it is! I saw that the owner of one of the pairs had his upgraded to Arrakis 2 with the active crossover...so that can be done a future date.

But in any event, looks like i will keep my eye out for passive. Enjoy your incredible system!!!!!!!!!!!!

lloydelee21 May 20, 2012 14:10

Babybear,

Absolutely incredible. As JFrech says, if i ever upgrade from my Wilsons, this is probably the only way to go. i too have heard other Rockports and been impressed.

I own a Gryphon Colosseum dual-mono. I have seen only 2 setups with the Arrakis...both had 2 sets of monos...4 amps! Am i going to be able to run the Arrakis 1 (original) with 1 dual mono Gryphon Colosseum??? Thanks for any advice!!!

lloydelee21 May 19, 2012 13:03